Improving the Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges (2)

Hina Bokhari: As part of your review of the Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges, what engagement will you and the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development be having with shared owners in London to understand how it could work better for them?

The Mayor: My officers have carried out early engagement with groups that represent the views of leaseholders and residents of affordable housing. They have also consulted with Registered Providers to hear the issues their residents are raising with them. Finally, they have consulted the regulatory and advisory bodies that provide a consumer protection role in relation to service charges. My officers will continue this engagement as the work to refresh the Charter continues.
In addition to this, the intermediate housing consultation that concluded last year sought views on service charges and had a wide range of respondents. The insight gained from this consultation, and correspondence received by the Mayor and Assembly Members from shared owners, will inform the review of the Charter.
The London Housing Panel has also been invited to input, using their housing knowledge and experience from the voluntary and community sector.

Tasers (2)

Emma Best: How many officers by the end of your mayoralty would you like to see equipped with tasers?

The Mayor: The decision on whether or not officers should carry a taser is an operational one. The Commissioner has indicated that, as planned, Taser equipped officers will increase to around 10,000 by the end of 2022.

Homicides (2)

Shaun Bailey: For each year financial year, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 please provide a breakdown of the ethnicity of perpetrators of homicide.

The Mayor: Information on people proceeded against for homicide offences is published by the Metropolitan Police on the London Datastore and can be found via the following link:
https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/mps-homicide-dashboard-data

Good Growth Fund Projects Per Borough

Shaun Bailey: How many Good Growth Fund projects are located in each London borough? Please specify which projects are in each borough.

The Mayor: The number of Good Growth Fund projects per London borough is attached.

The Mayor: MQ2942 supporting document.pdf

Air quality and Schools (4)

Leonie Cooper: Going forward, how many schools are anticipated to contact the helpdesk seeking help with air quality improvements?

The Mayor: I launched the London Schools Pollution Helpdesk in February as part of my plans to clean up toxic air at schools in the worst polluted areas of the city. In addition to accepting queries by phone, text, online forms and email, the Helpdesk’s website itself is a source for free information on air quality and ways to tackle pollution.
Whilst it is difficult to predict the number of schools that will submit queries in the future, the Helpdesk will provide free advice and information to any London school requesting support to improve air quality for its staff and pupils.

Air quality and Schools (3)

Leonie Cooper: How many schools have contacted the air quality helpdesk for help so far? Please provide a month-by-month breakdown since the helpdesk was launched.

The Mayor: In February, I launched the London Schools Pollution Helpdesk as part of my plans to clean up toxic air at schools in the worst polluted areas of the city. In addition to accepting queries by phone, text, online forms and email, the Helpdesk’s website itself hosts an array of information on air quality action.
By the end of June, the Helpdesk had received and responded to 47 queries from a variety of stakeholders interested in improving air quality around schools, including parents, school officials and borough officers. Of the 47 queries, eight were received in February; 15 in March; four in April; nine in May; and 11 in June.
During this time, the Helpdesk also reached out to schools that remain in areas where air pollution exceeds or nearly exceeds legal limits, offering support to encourage local action to reduce emissions and children’s exposure to air pollution.

X-buses

Anne Clarke: Has TfL undertaken any assessment of the viability of introducing “X” bus services, similar to those in use in Paris? These are special buses on existing routes which only stop at every few stops, and act as town centre bus hoppers, allowing for faster services. What would be the pros and cons of such a suggestion?

The Mayor: As set out in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, Transport for London (TfL) has undertaken reviews of the viability of such bus services and already runs a number of these across London, including routes X26, X68, 607 and, most recently, the X140 introduced in December 2019. These routes are limited stop, predominately serving town centres and transport interchanges, with parallel local routes serving intermediate stops.
The advantage of this approach is that passengers using limited stop routes benefit from quicker journey times, while other passengers can continue to access all-stops services. However, there needs to be sufficient demand for running two or more routes in parallel at a high frequency for this to offer value for money. Extensive bus priority systems are also desirable to enable limited stop buses to overtake local buses and traffic to ensure time savings are realised.
Potential disadvantages would be only running a limited stop route on a corridor leaving existing stops unserved or running two low frequency routes (one limited stop and one stopping) where relatively quick journey times are cancelled out by longer waiting times.
In this context, TfL continues to review options for new express services.

17 bus

Anne Clarke: The 17 bus used to be the only direct bus from East Finchley to Central London, but was removed several years ago. Will you consider re-extending the route back?

The Mayor: Route 17 currently runs between London Bridge and Archway. Extending it to East Finchley would increase the route’s journey length and time, which is likely to affect its reliability. There are therefore no current plans to consider extending the route.
However, since 2014, the Northern line has been upgraded, providing faster journey times and greater capacity. This includes 24 trains per hour from East Finchley during the peaks to many parts of Central London in as little as 15 minutes. Around this time, route 263, which serves East Finchley, was extended to Highbury Barn, providing direct links to Upper Street and to Highbury and Islington station, where interchange is available with rail and bus services into Central and East London. I also introduced the Hopper Fare which enables passengers to take unlimited bus journeys within an hour for the price of a single bus journey, ensuring multi-bus journeys within an hour are as affordable as single bus journeys.

Location of school streets (2)

Siân Berry: In question 2020/3841 you provided a link to a list of School Streets delivered up to 30 October 2020. Are there any further School Streets delivered since that time which you could provide data for by updating this list?

The Mayor: Please find attached a list of School Streets delivered using borough Streetspace funding. Note that this does not include schemes delivered via other funding mechanisms, which Transport for London does not actively monitor.

The Mayor: 2801 - Location of School Streets (2) appendix.pdf

Rapid rollout of temporary dropped kerbs

Siân Berry: The disability campaign group Transport for All has successfully lobbied Westminster Council to provide asphalt ramps in locations where dropped kerbs have been missing for several years, and permanent changes are not scheduled. Will you undertake similar work where necessary on the Transport for London (TfL) road network and also promote such approaches with local authorities?

The Mayor: The standard layout on the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) is to provide dropped kerbs at all signalised and unsignalised formal crossing points, so temporary ramps are not needed. There may be isolated historical instances where this is not the case and Transport for London (TfL) would consider modifications to the layout of these crossings if brought to its attention and it was deemed appropriate.
TfL is dedicated to meeting its duty to make London’s streets inclusive for everybody, with a strong focus on understanding how people with protected characteristics are impacted and what can be done better to make our streets safe and accessible for them.
TfL provides all of London’s boroughs with guidance on how to design London’s streets, including how to make them inclusive. In addition there is national guidance on street design. I encourage all London’s boroughs to follow this guidance and take action where possible so everyone can get around our city easily and safely.

OWL (Online Watch Link) (7)

Susan Hall: If no such exercise is planned to conclude by 31 Dec 2021, will you confirm that funding of the OWL (Online Watch Link) system currently used by several London Boroughs will be renewed from 1st April 2022 at a cost of £5,000 per Borough, as the default contract?

The Mayor: Any decision to tender for a community communications system will be informed by a business case that will consider the requirement for, and viability of, the available systems. Continued support for any existing contracts will be reviewed as part of this process. Any tender process that may be initiated will reflect the business case recommendations.

Pollution Hotspots

Emma Best: Please can the Mayor state the locations of the top ten worst pollution hotspots in London?

The Mayor: My bold air quality programme has significantly improved air quality in London, leading to a 94 per cent reduction in the number of people living in areas exceeding legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
Following the Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion in October, together with tougher Londonwide Low Emission Zone standards for heavy vehicles, 92 per cent of roads in London will comply with legal limits for NO2this year.
My officers are currently reviewing the remaining locations across London that are predicted not to meet legal compliance with NO2limits after ULEZ expansion and identifying targeted solutions spanning Government, Mayoral and borough powers to address them quickly and effectively. This requires updated modelling due later this year.
Londoners are able to access reliable, localised, real-time air quality data through the Breathe London website (https://www.breathelondon.org/) launched earlier this year as part of the expansion of the network.

DLR Rolling Stock

Elly Baker: Does TfL have the necessary financial certainty to proceed unconditionally with the Housing Infrastructure Fund agreement for 14 more trains and stabling?

The Mayor: A report is planned to go to Transport for London’s (TfL) Programmes and Investment Committee on 21 July, which will confirm whether TfL can proceed with the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) agreement to procure additional DLR trains, upgrade infrastructure, expand the Beckton depot to accommodate the new trains and undertake enabling works to facilitate oversite development at Poplar.Reports to the Committee can be found at https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/programmes-and-investment-committee

Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges (1)

Sem Moema: When did you launch the shared ownership charter and how many organisations are currently signed up to it?

The Mayor: The Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges was launched in 2017 as a requirement of the Affordable Homes Programme 2016-21. Currently, there are 28 organisations signed up to the Charter. The list of current signatories can be viewed at https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/list_of_signatories.pdf

Rent Increase

Sem Moema: Can the Mayor confirm the percentage level of rent increase for 2020/21 across London Boroughs?

The Mayor: Data on the change in average private rents across all tenancies is not available at local authority level as the index of private rents published by the Office for National Statistics is only available down to regional level. Estimates of borough-level changes in average private rents for new tenancies only are occasionally published by private sector organisations such as Zoopla.

Linking your zero carbon pathways tool to the Transport Strategy

Caroline Russell: Will you ensure that the updated zero carbon pathways tool authorised under DD2538 will provide a clear linkage between changes in transport usage reducing carbon emissions and increases in walking and cycling to reach your Transport Strategy goal for 80 per cent of travel to be by public transport, walking and cycling by 2041?

The Mayor: Transport is an important source of London’s direct greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the trajectory for transport emissions reduction, and how this can be achieved, is central to the update of the zero carbon pathways tool.
Public transport, walking and cycling will be integral to driving down emissions and will be an important part of scenarios developed for meeting net zero by 2030 and existing targets around reducing vehicle kilometres and for 80% of travel to be by public transport, walking or cycling by 2041.

Support for Children (3)

Sem Moema: How will your recovery missions, your New Deal for Young People mission, support children and young people in London?

The Mayor: The London Recovery Board has prioritised young people in our city’s recovery and aims to help young people flourish with access to support and opportunities. All of the missions, in particular my New Deal for Young People (NDYP) mission, will help meet this ambition.
The New Deal for Young People mission will support young people, especially those facing the greatest barriers to realising their potential. The mission aims to align funding and resources to provide place-based access to youth provision and to support personalised mentoring and other tailored interventions for young people.
Please see Mayor’s Question 2021/3229 for information.

Progress towards landfill waste targets for 2026

Zack Polanski: Your Environment Strategy sets a target of having no biodegradable or recyclable waste sent to landfills by 2026. Could you provide an update on progress toward this target? Does the GLA expect to meet its 2026 goal?

The Mayor: London is the leading region in England in reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill. In London, the proportion of waste sent to landfill has dropped from 7.0 per cent in 2018/9 to 2.8 per cent in 2019/20 (comparative rates for England are 10.5 per cent and 8.5 per cent). I am confident, given these figures, that I will achieve my target. I will continue to work towards this goal while focusing on increasing recycling rates and ensuring that only truly non-recyclable waste is sent for incineration.
My officers review all local authority waste contracts to ensure that they are in conformity with the London Environment Strategy, focusing on the waste hierarchy and diverting as much waste as possible for reuse and recycling. In addition, boroughs must set out in their Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs) how they will cut waste, and reuse and recycle more.
Please also see my answer to MQ2021/2258.

TfL Works for London programme (1)

Leonie Cooper: What experience do the three leading infrastructure companies Ringway, FM Conway Limited and Tarmac Kier JV have of grass verge and tree maintenance?

The Mayor: Grass verge and tree maintenance is included as part of the core service under the new London Highway Maintenance and Projects Framework, which forms part of Transport for London’s (TfL) Works for London contract suite. As part of the competitive tender process for this framework, the contractors were required to demonstrate their ability to deliver the core service and ensure continuous improvement throughout the framework term.
In order to ensure the contractors demonstrated the required experience and ability, minimum scoring thresholds were included as part of the tender evaluation process, whereby a contractor could be excluded if it failed to meet a minimum score. Each of the successful contractors demonstrated the required ability to meet TfL’s requirements in this area.

Early Intervention with Children (3)

Sem Moema: What conversations have you had with the Children’s Commissioner to support child victims?

The Mayor: The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, and the Victims’ Commissioner for London have written jointly to Dame Rachel de Souza, the new Children’s Commissioner, welcoming her to the role and inviting her to a meeting, which will be arranged in due course.
In terms of interaction with the previous Children's Commissioner, both MOPAC and the Victims’ Commissioner’s office had regular contact with her office and have worked together as the joint signatories on a number of letters urging improvement and positive change regarding support for young victims of crime.

Night time venue safety

Zack Polanski: What plans do you have in place to keep Londoners safe from coronavirus in nightclubs and other night time venues as they start to reopen?

The Mayor: Nightclubs have had their doors closed for more than 16 months and are desperate to open and play their part in the capital’s economic and social recovery. As such, I am pleased that the Government has confirmed we remain on track for restrictions to be lifted on 19th July.
The vaccine is a gamechanger in our fight against this virus. It has been able to protect our communities and I want to continue opening up our city safely. With case numbers continuing to rise however, we cannot be complacent, and ministers must ensure they provide clear, unequivocal guidance on what people should do to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. It is also clear that businesses require more clarity – whether around the expectations for COVID passports or other measures recommended to reopen safely.
My Safer Sounds Partnership is providing training and guidance for venues on how to reopen safely and my multi-agency High Street Reopening Coordination Group continues to work with key stakeholders to support the safe reopening of businesses on the high street.

Reopening of nightclubs

Zack Polanski: What is your response, and that of your Night Czar, to the announcement from the Government that nightclubs will reopen on 19 July without attendees having to take coronavirus tests or show vaccine passports?

The Mayor: Like everyone else, I want to see people being able to freely return to doing the things they love to do – whether it’s going to a nightclub, sports event, a music festival or visiting a West End theatre. Nightclubs have had their doors closed for more than 16 months and I know they are desperate to open and play their part in the capital’s economic and social recovery.
The vaccine is a gamechanger in our fight against this virus. It has been able to protect our communities and I want to continue opening up our city safely.
As stage four of the roadmap has now been confirmed for 19 July, it’s vital that venues are given greater clarity from Government as soon as possible around the expectations for COVID passports and other recommended measures to reopen safely.

Support for Children (5)

Sem Moema: What support have you provided for children in Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest during your mayoralty?

The Mayor: I have provided a wide range of help, from my Early Years Campaign grants for young children and their families through to the work that the London Enterprise Adviser Network is doing to provide careers support in 49 schools and colleges in these boroughs.
I’ve funded 48 projects delivering in Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest through round 1 and 2 of my Young Londoners Fund which have supported over 6,500 young people since 2018. More information can be found at https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/young-londoners-fund-projects. Other support includes that from my Headstart Action employability and social action programme which worked with six Hackney schools, Sport Unites projects which have helped hundreds of children, and investment in eight organisations which ran social action projects supporting children’s mental health through Young London Inspired. Five Hackney and Waltham Forest schools have been funded through my Stepping Stones primary to secondary transition programme.
My Violence Reduction Unit is also supporting children in these boroughs through its Supporting Inclusive Schools Programme, Pupil Referral Unit Support Programme, and the My Ends community led-solutions project for young people affected by violence.
Please contact [emailprotected] if you would like more information on these and other programmes.

Creative Freelancers: Shaping London’s Recovery programme

Zack Polanski: When can we expect the output from the Creative Freelancers: Shaping London’s Recovery programme?

The Mayor: Freelancers make up nearly half of the jobs in the capital’s world-leading culture and creative industries, but the pandemic has hit them hard. At least 200,000 self-employed Londoners have been excluded from any Government support. Nationally, according to the Centre for Cultural Value, the number of freelancers in all creative occupations declined by around 38,000 from the start of 2020.
That is why in March 2021 I launched my Creative Freelancers: Shaping London’s Recovery Programme, to support freelancers. This programme will feed into development of a new Freelancers Charter, led by freelancers, to improve working conditions by setting out standards for what freelancers should be able to expect from employers, drawing on best practice from across the sector. The Freelancers Charter is in development and the programme is expected to conclude in early 2022.

TfL’s Electric Vehicle Charging Points

Elly Baker: I understand there are 10,651 parking spaces at 79 TfL car parks. How many electric vehicle charging points are provided at each of those stations now and what plans, if any, do you have to provide more charging points in the future?

The Mayor: There are currently 30 car parks at Transport for London (TfL) stations with a total of 30 electric vehicle rapid charging points. Of these, 20 are dedicated taxi-only rapid charging points to support the taxi trade’s transition to Zero Emission Capable (ZEC) vehicles, resulting in cleaner, greener taxis on London’s streets.
TfL is drafting a new Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Strategy, which will estimate the capital’s infrastructure needs and be published later this year. An in-depth analysis of GLA Group land is also being undertaken to assess the viability of sites to accommodate EV charging infrastructure and TfL car parks will be considered as part of that work.

GLA work to support vegan options

Zack Polanski: What action has been taken to support vegan options in catering facilities across the GLA, and what are your current ambitions?

The Mayor: The Greater London Authority is in the process of going out to tender for a company to provide catering services at the new City Hall. The specification includes commitments to sustainability and healthy eating.
The specification ensures that ethical choices are built into the menus, and this includes specific reference to the provision of vegetarian and vegan options.
The chosen supplier will agree to support the Healthier Catering Commitment and Veg Cities, both campaigns promote the inclusion of more fruit and vegetables in dishes as standard.

GLA (5)

Peter Fortune: How much has the Greater London Authority spent on temporary staff each year since 2016?

The Mayor: The Greater London Authority expenditure on temporary staff each financial year since 2016 has been as follows:

Gun tip offs

Susan Hall: For each year financial year, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 how many tip offs were received about someone carrying a gun?

The Mayor: Data on this is not held in such a way as to allow the Metropolitan Police Service to answer the question.

Confidence in the Police

Susan Hall: For each quarter published on https://data.london.gov.uk/ for Confidence in the Police, please provide breakdowns of the following:
• By ethnicity
• By age
• By gender
• By British, European and non-European

The Mayor: Please see attached the requested data. It should be noted that data presented is Rolling 12 months to quarter end. Breakdowns by demographic variables are presented by categories (as presented on our dashboard here https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/mayors-office-policing-and-crime-mopac/data-and-statistics/public-voice-dashboard).
We routinely measure ethnicity in the PAS via the question, “What is your ethnic group?” with options read out to respondents in the interview. However, we do not currently collect information on country of birth in the survey so are unable to provide breakdowns by British, European and Non-European respondents.

The Mayor: Copy of PAS_MQ_2967.xlsx

Closure of Bedford Hill, rerouting of buses

Leonie Cooper: Bedford Hill will be closed for 3 weekends between the A24 and the junction with Balham Station Road/Fernlea Road. Constituents would like to know if further weekend closures might be possible during July and August. Has the local authority approached TfL about re-routing buses at weekends to allow such closures to happen?

The Mayor: The decision to close Bedford Hill on weekends was made by the London Borough of Wandsworth (LB Wandsworth). At the moment, Transport for London (TfL) has not been approached by LB Wandsworth to discuss any further closures beyond the three weekends already agreed. Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2021/1406 for further details
Should LB Wandsworth decide on further weekend closures, TfL will once again work with the borough to minimise the impact on passengers.

Fountain Road, Tooting SW17

Leonie Cooper: The 155, 264, 280, 492 and G1 buses all travel down Fountain Road. On behalf of constituents, could I please be updated on:
when the buses on all these routes will have the intelligent speed assistance devices?


Fountain Road is used by all these buses to reach Blackshaw Road, where many of them stand. For those buses not entering St George’s Hospital, could their route be adjusted to exclude using Fountain Road as a shortcut to the bus standing area?

The Mayor: On the matter of Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) devices, please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2021/1671, where I outlined that Transport for London (TfL) is progressively installing these on buses in the area, with a rollout to commence first on route 155. The date at which all buses serving the routes outlined in your question will be fitted with ISA devices is still to be determined.
Unfortunately, there are limited options to adjust the routeing of buses travelling along Fountain Road to access Blackshaw Road. TfL’s assessment of re-routing the service via Smallwood Road instead would incur 3-5 minutes of additional journey time. This has a direct impact upon customers but would also cause a reduced turn-around time and, hence, greater unreliability, and/or the requirement for an extra vehicle to maintain current frequencies and the resultant cost implications. TfL therefore has no plans to make this change at this time.

TfL Works for London programme (2)

Leonie Cooper: Will the TfL programme for Works for London include new planting as well as maintenance?

The Mayor: The new Works for London contract suite will build upon the success achieved under Transport for London’s (TfL) previous contractual arrangements. The annual tree planting programme will continue, with a target of increasing the number of trees on the Transport for London Road Network by one per cent every year.
The new contract suite has been designed to provide TfL with the flexibility to instruct works at its discretion. As part of the contract scope, TfL has introduced various options in relation to planting to help meet the target outlined above alongside other new planting activities. TfL remains committed to planting more trees, and the Works for London contracts will ensure London’s roads are efficient, green and safe for years to come.

Early Intervention with Children (2)

Sem Moema: How much of a priority are young people’s and children’s issues as part of the Mayor’s Recovery Programme? Please enumerate the relevant projects with this cohort.

The Mayor: Support for young people continues to be a priority as we recover from the pandemic. I want all young Londoners to flourish, with access to support and opportunities. My New Deal for Young People recovery mission will help deliver this by: investing in my Young Londoners Fund; providing strategic investment, alongside other London funders, to provide mentoring and personalised support; funding two My Ends grants which support locally-designed interventions in neighbourhoods affected by high levels of violence; funding mentoring reaching 4,000 young people through Wave 5 London Community Response; contributing to Headstart Action, a personal and social development programme; grant funding to an additional 14 schools to deliver Stepping Stones to help disadvantaged children transition from primary to secondary (45 schools have now been funded); funding My London which supports youth sector organisations to increase civic participation of disadvantaged young people; and by backing an employer, creative and STEM mentoring initiative.
I have committed funds through my Robust Safety Net Mission to encourage take up of early years entitlements. My Good Work for All mission looks at supporting young Londoners into education, training or jobs, and my Healthy Food and Weight and Mental Health and Wellbeing missions will ensure that all Londoners, especially young people who have been most affected by the pandemic, can live healthier, happier lives.

Night Czar support for creative industries

Zack Polanski: What work is your Night Czar doing to support creative industries in London at risk from the coronavirus crisis?

The Mayor: London’s world-leading creative industries are a vital part of life at night, with most of the sector facing restrictions or closure for almost 18 months.
My Night Czar has been supporting creative night time businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, through my £2.3m Culture at Risk Business Support Fund, helping some of the most at risk cultural venues, including 229 grassroots music and 26 LGBTQ+ venues. She also works closely with the Culture at Risk Office, offering tailored support to venues who are risk of closure.
The Night Czar is working with industry bodies, such as the Music Venue Trust and Night Time Industries Association, to raise awareness of the devastating impact COVID-19 is having on creative venues and freelancers and to call on government to provide the comprehensive support they need. I was pleased to see that music venues and creative supply chain organisations were, as a result, included in the government’s Culture Recovery Fund.

Night Czar surgeries

Zack Polanski: How many Night Surgeries, including in person and virtual surgeries, has your Night Czar conducted in the last year?

The Mayor: Whilst in person Night Surgeries have been restricted due to COVID-19 in the last year, my Night Czar has held over 20 online roundtables with stakeholders, including boroughs, Business Improvement Districts and industry trade bodies. She also hosted six Night Time Borough Champions meetings and has held 14 meetings with borough leaders and cabinet members.
She also attended a deployment with the Met Police’s volunteer programme in Soho last month, to see first-hand the work they do. As restrictions are further lifted, a programme of in person COVID-safe Night Surgeries will soon resume.

London’s markets

Marina Ahmad: What action are you taking to support London’s markets to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?

The Mayor: Working with my London Markets Board, we receive regular updates from London’s markets about the Covid-related challenges they are experiencing. Several actions are underway to support the recovery of street markets including investment through my Good Growth Fund and the London Recovery Board’s High Streets for All mission to support the formation of strategies to enable markets to diversify, secure their long-term sustainability as well as pilot interventions to test and trial new ideas.
Support is also available through my London Business Hub: https://www.businesshub.london/.

Supporting London’s musicians through recovery and post-Brexit (3)

Zack Polanski: Could you share any response you receive from the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport regarding your letter about barriers to international touring for UK and EU artists and cultural professionals with me once you receive it?

The Mayor: In my letter of 3 February to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, I set out my concern about the UK Government’s failure to reach agreement with the EU on allowing artists to work and travel easily within the UK and the EU. I have yet to receive a response to my letter.
I have asked the Secretary of State for a meeting to discuss how London’s culture and creative industries can play a part in leading the UK’s recovery from COVID-19. This will include addressing the impact that Brexit has had on the sector.

Culture and Hospitality in South West London

Nicholas Rogers: What actions are you taking to specifically support culture and hospitality businesses and employees in the South-West Constituency? Please specify your targets for this mayoral term in this area.

The Mayor: I am committed to supporting London’s culture and hospitality businesses. They have been some of the hardest hit sectors throughout the pandemic.
My Culture at Risk Office is currently supporting 17 cultural organisations and creative businesses across Hounslow, Richmond and Kingston. My London Business Hub has supported 385 businesses in the creative industries, hospitality and tourism sectors in the South-West constituency and awarded grants to four organisations in these boroughs of up to £5,000 to help them adapt to the COVID-19 crisis.
Hounslow is one of my first Creative Enterprise Zones and has been awarded with £843,000 to support local creative businesses and deliver a skills programme running until 2023 to support local people to access jobs. My new Skills Academies will support Londoners into good jobs in hospitality and the creative industries across London, giving them the relevant skills they need.

Improving the Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges (1)

Hina Bokhari: I understand that you are looking to improve your Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges to coincide with your Affordable Housing Programme 2021-26. Please can you outline the key areas within the charter you are looking to strengthen and change?

The Mayor: The existing Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges was introduced in 2017 during the implementation of the 2016-21 Affordable Homes Programme.
As I set out in the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26 funding guidance, I would like to work with partners to develop a new and improved Charter. My housing team is currently reviewing the themes covered in the Charter – transparency, affordability and design approach – with the intention that these principles are strengthened.
The new Charter will also recognise that shared owners’ concerns extend beyond service charges. I will require investment partners to publish details of additional fees and charges on their website.

Working parents

Marina Ahmad: Gingerbread have found that nearly a third of working parents are concerned that childcare responsibilities will make them more vulnerable to redundancy when furlough ends. How can you support working parents in London concerned about this and what should the Government do to support them when furlough comes to an end?

The Mayor: Early education and childcare is essential to London’s recovery from the pandemic. That’s why I’ve invested Recovery Funds in ‘Strong Early Years London’ a business support programmefor nurseries and childminders to help them survive and thrive, continuing to provide the support that the capital’s working families need.
Alongside partners, I have committed that there is ‘no wrong door’ for anyone who needs to access services to help them get good quality employment and training. I’ve made changes to how I allocate my Adult Education Budget to enable retraining and fund more pre-employment and job-focused provision. My ESF Parental Employment projects are helping parents to find jobs, progress their careers and access childcare. They’re also training employers on family friendly working practices and promoting the benefits of flexible working.
Through the Recovery Programme, I will raise awareness about childcare entitlements, helping parents understand what they are eligible for. I will continue to make the case to Government for adequate funding for affordable, accessible and quality early years provision.

E-scooter Enabled Crime

Caroline Pidgeon: Given the increased prevalence of e-scooter enabled crime what investment is the Met making in technology and resources to ensure that those committing such crimes can be apprehended where possible, especially given e-scooters allow those committing crimes to flee from the scene quickly?

The Mayor: The MPS is currently liaising with the Home Office and the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) to explore technology-based solutions as they emerge. This will be kept under review.
The MPS resource investment into this issue consists of joint work between the Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) and Violence Command, as well as linking into national work under the NPCC Roads Portfolio to analyse the extent and nature of the problem, and delivery of specific traffic led and joint crime operations targeting illegal use of, and crime on, e-scooters.

Sex crime training

Tony Devenish: Have you enquired into the facts behind an anonymous Met detective telling The Times (5th June), that officers were not giving appropriate care to sex crime victims because of inadequate training?

The Mayor: Please see my response to MQ 2021/2439.

Future MedCity Funding

Emma Best: In response to my question 2021/2318 you said you have not committed any MedCity funding for future years beyond £200,000 for the 2021-22 financial year. Can you confirm if this means you will be stopping funding for MedCity after 21-22?

The Mayor: No, it does not. Future GLA funding for MedCity will be reviewed in early 2022, and - as in previous years - funding will depend on MedCity’s overall levels of expenditure and income.

Support for Children (1)

Sem Moema: The Champions for Children campaign, supported by the Mayor’s Fund for London, has met its target of raising over £60,000. Please provide a breakdown of the meals, skills and knowledge that low-income children will benefit from as a result of the fundraising.

The Mayor: The Mayor’s Fund for London is an independent charity of which the Mayor of London is patron. It raises its own income and distributes funding and support across the capital in the fields of children’s wellbeing (focused on food insecurity), skills (focused on numeracy), employability and enterprise.More information on the Mayor’s Fund for London can be found at https://www.mayorsfundforlondon.org.uk/ or the Assembly Member can contact their Chief Executive, Kirsty McHugh at [emailprotected]

Manifesto commitment on green walls and roofs

Hina Bokhari: Please state how you are taking forward your manifesto commitment to install green walls and roofs across the city, and your commitment to TfL greening bus shelter roofs and planting wildflowers on central reservations and embankments.

The Mayor: Securing new green roofs and walls through development is the most effective way to increase their coverage at scale and speed. Please see MQ 2021/1737 and 2021/1738 (Green Walls and Roofs in London) for detail of how the innovative Urban Greening Factor within my London Plan ensures delivery through the planning system.
Please see MQ 2021/1417 (Green Roofs on Bus Shelters) for a description of the work TfL is doing on green bus shelter roofs and wildflower verges, which will contribute to delivering my manifesto commitment.

Access to Affordable Housing for Low Wage Workers

Hina Bokhari: How are you helping employees in London who may not qualify as key workers but who are not on high incomes, to access housing they can afford?

The Mayor: Building more affordable housing is my top housing priority and will help low income Londoners move into housing they can afford. Over the next five years 79,000 genuinely affordable homes will be started in London across the remainder of the 2016-2023 Affordable Homes Programme and my new 2021-2026 Affordable Homes Programme.
The evidence shows that almost half of the 66,000 new homes needed each year in London should be low cost rent homes. That is why I agreed with government that over half of the homes delivered under my new 2021-2026 Affordable Homes Programme will be for social rent, giving more low income households the stable, affordable homes that they need. However, I have also been very clear that the £4 billion allocated to London for the 2021-26 programme by the Government falls far short of what is needed. I will continue to lobby ministers to provide the additional funding London requires.

Night Time Strategies

Marina Ahmad: How many of London’s councils have developed Night Time Strategies so far, and can you tell me which councils these are?

The Mayor: In 2019, the London Night Time Commission recommended that I produce
guidance for boroughs to help them develop night time strategies supporting the night time economy and town centres between 6pm and 6am.
My Night Czar and 24 Hour London team are working with boroughs across the capital to support them in the development of their night time strategies. Already, Croydon and Lewisham have published borough night time strategies.
In March 2021, I published comprehensive guidance on how to create a night time strategy and launched the Night Time Data Observatory to help boroughs make informed decisions in their plans. My Night Czar and 24 Hour London team will continue to support boroughs via the Night Time Borough Champions Network.
As we emerge from the restrictions of the pandemic, it is now more important than ever for boroughs to consider how they can plan and manage their areas of night time activity to enable a strong recovery and they have my full support. This work is particularly key for those sectors that operate at night and who have been so badly affected over the last 18 months.

Derelict Buildings

Sakina Sheikh: How many derelict buildings are you aware of in London? How can you help get them back into use?

The Mayor: The GLA does not hold this information.

Garages on Estates

Sakina Sheikh: How many garages on estates are there currently in each inner London borough?

The Mayor: The GLA does not hold this information.

Asylum seeker perpetrators of crime

Unmesh Desai: Please provide the number of perpetrators of crime in London in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to date who were seeking asylum in the UK. Please provide a breakdown of crime types if possible.

The Mayor: The Metropolitan Police Service is unable to provide this data.

Asylum seeker victims of crime

Unmesh Desai: Please provide the number of victims of crime in London in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to date who were seeking asylum in the UK? Please provide a breakdown of crime types if possible.

The Mayor: The Metropolitan Police service is unable to provide this data.

Estate Regeneration Ballots

Sakina Sheikh: How many ballots have taken place on estate regenerations since they became a requirement in 2018? What was the outcome in each one?

The Mayor: My housing team publishes information successful ballots on the GLA website. You will see from this information that 10 positive ballots had taken place as of 8 December 2020.
Providers seeking funding for regeneration projects only inform my housing team when a successful ballot has taken place. This means some ballots may occur without the GLA being informed.

Housing association homes

Tony Devenish: Further to questions 2021/0747 and 2021/0206, why does the GLA not specifically track the number of homes being built by housing associations in London, or ask housing associations to provide information on how GLA affordable housing funds are being spent? Will you now undertake to do so?

The Mayor: The GLA records in its planning databases the aggregate number of homes built by housing associations, whether publicly funded or not. Its affordable housing monitoring systems record progress by housing associations and other investment partners on schemes funded by the GLA, including starts and completions.

Overage agreements

Caroline Pidgeon: Please publish a list of all those schemes where the GLA has entered and not entered into an overage agreement with development partners since 2016?

The Mayor: The table below is a list of schemes where GLA has entered into a development, funding or loan agreement with a developer or has acquired land for development since 2016. The table also confirms whether the agreement includes an overage arrangement. Overage arrangements are usually included where GLA is acquiring land or is disposing of land via a development agreement. Where GLA provides a loan to a developer, an overage arrangement is not included in the loan agreement.
Scheme
Overage Arrangement in Place?
Countryside Properties Ltd - Beam Park – development agreement
Yes
St William - Haringey Heartlands – sale agreement
Yes
Segro – EastPlus – development agreement
Yes
Polar Ford site, New Road, Dagenham – sale agreement
No
Maskell 1 site, Hindmans Way, Dagenham Dock
No
Berkeley Homes (South East London) Ltd - Stephenson Street – development agreement
Yes
Notting Hill Genesis - Gallions 3B – development agreement
Yes
London and Regional - Albert Island – development agreement
Yes
Orbit - Arthur Street – grant agreement
Yes
Catalyst and Swan - Webbs Industrial Estate – development agreement
Yes
English Cities Fund - Manor Road – development agreement
Yes
St Ann’s Hospital – GLAP land acquisition
Yes
North Middlesex University Hospital Trust – GLAP land acquisition
Yes
Knight Dragon Developments Limited - Greenwich Peninsula – development agreement
Yes
GLAP/MOPAC – Colindale Sites Disposal – Cooperation Agreement
Yes
Mount Anvil – Western Gateway
Yes
Swan - Blackwall Reach Housing Zone Loan
No
Barking Riverside Ltd - Infrastructure loan
No
Anthology - Hale Village Housing Zone Loan
No
Swan - Cambridge Road Housing Zone Loan
No
Anthology – Marshgate – Loan
No
City & Docklands – Portland West – London Housing Bank Loan
No
Central Harrow LLP – Cumberland Road Housing Zone Loan
No
Origin Housing – Cumberland Road – Housing Zone Loan
No
Anthology – Woodlands – Loan
No
South Harrow LLP – Northolt Road – Housing Zone Loan
No
Origin Housing – Northolt Road – Housing Zone Loan
No
Anthology – Hale Village (land) – Housing Zone Loan
No
CityStyle Living – care & support – Loan
No
Mitre Yard Properties Ltd – Mitre Yard – Mezzanine Loan
No
Pocket Living Tranche A – AHP Loan
No
Pocket Living Tranche B – AHP Loan
No
Pocket Living Tranche C – AHP Loan
No
LB Kingston – Cambridge Road – Housing Zones recoverable grant
No
Network Homes – London Housing Bank Loan
No
LB Lambeth – Lambeth Estates – Housing Zone grant
No
LB Westminster – Church St – Housing Zone recoverable grant
No
LB Barking & Dagenham – Gascoigne – Housing Zone recoverable grant
Yes
Notting Hill Genesis – A1306 land assembly – Housing Zone recoverable grant
No
Real Lettings Property Fund – AHP equity investment
No
Apex Airspace Ltd – AHP Loan
No
Countryside Property Ltd – Beam Park – Remediation Loan
No
Mount Anvil – revolving loan facility
No
Peabody – Holloway Prison – Loan
No
Waterside Places Ltd – Hale Wharf – Housing Zone Loan
No
Waterside Places Ltd – Hale Wharf Infrastructure – Housing Zone grant
Yes
Swan – Loan Facility
No
Resonance Everyone In Partnerships Ltd – Social Investment
No
Barking Riverside Ltd – Station – infrastructure grant
No
Colindale Station – land assembly grant
No
LB Lewisham – Precision Manufacturing – Grant
No
LB Enfield – Station – Grant
No

High Street Support

Neil Garratt: How many high streets are there in London and how many of them have you directly supported since May 2016? Please give a breakdown by borough and year.

The Mayor: At City Hall we have identified up to 600 high streets overlapping and complementing the network of 200 town centres across London.
Approximately £35 million of my Good Growth Fund has been directed towards high street and town centre improvements. An additional £8.1m has been allocated through Good Growth Fund Accelerator projects as part of the government’s Getting Building Fund to regenerate town centres and high streets across London. A breakdown by borough and year is provided below.
In addition, my team have provided strategic support to a much wider range of high streets across London including convening a quarterly High Streets Network and producing guidance such as the High Streets and Town Centres Adaptive Strategies and High Streets for All Possibilities Playbook. We are also supporting a new tranche of high streets via the High Streets for All Challenge.

Fraud (1)

Neil Garratt: For each year financial year, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 how many online frauds were reported in London?

The Mayor: This information is not held by the MPS. Information related to fraud is published by Action Fraud here:
https://colpolice.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/60499304565045b0bce05d2ca7e1e56c

Licensing Improvements

Neil Garratt: How are you working with London Borough councils to improve licensing processes to support pop-up events to boost London’s economy?

The Mayor: My High Street Reopening Coordination Group, and its Licensing and Regulation Subgroup, meet every three weeks and their work relates to the safe reopening of our high streets, venues, and public realm.
These multi-agency meetings include the Met Police and borough licensing and regulation officers, as well as businesses. They provide a supportive forum for sharing information, planning pro-active interventions, encouraging pop-up activity and the consideration of new and emerging issues.
I am also working closely with London Councils to support implementation of their new Pledges for Business, which include commitments to the evening and night time economy and to ensuring that regulatory functions, including licensing, deliver an effective service for business users.

New Homes Quality Code

Tony Devenish: Does the Mayor welcome the Government’s proposed New Homes Quality Code, following years of work to develop a new code of practice for the house building industry, and will you be responding to the consultation?

The Mayor: I welcome the Government’s proposed New Homes Quality Code, which will provide greater certainty and consistency to purchasers of new build homes if implemented. I particularly welcome the provision of a clear, fair and consistent set of information that requires builders to provide all relevant information about new homes in sales and marketing material. The government’s consultation has now closed, and my housing team did not submit a response.

Fraud (4)

Neil Garratt: For each year financial year, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 what was the average amount lost to fraud in London?

The Mayor: This information is not held by the MPS. Information related to fraud is published by Action Fraud here:
https://colpolice.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/60499304565045b0bce05d2ca7e1e56c

Fraud (5)

Neil Garratt: What are you doing to tackle fraud in London?

The Mayor: Allegations of fraud are received nationally by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau who conduct an assessment to determine which Police Force Area should lead any further investigation.
In London, complex fraud allegations are allocated to the Central Specialist Crime (Economic Crime) Command (ECC). Basic Command Units lead on investigations that are not considered complex. The ECC also support proactive initiatives coordinated nationally by the Lead Force for Economic Crime (the City of London Police). These focus on highest harm offending such as Courier Fraud and Romance Fraud, as determined by the Lead Force.
The London Victim and Witness Service (LVWS) supports victims of crime. Since April 2020, the LVWS has helped over 1,569 vulnerable victims of fraud and forgery.

Fraud (2)

Neil Garratt: For each year financial year, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 how many phone call scam frauds were reported in London?

The Mayor: This information is not held by the MPS. Information related to fraud is published by Action Fraud here:
https://colpolice.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/60499304565045b0bce05d2ca7e1e56c

Fraud (3)

Neil Garratt: For each year financial year, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 how many text message scam frauds were reported in London?

The Mayor: This information is not held by the MPS. Information related to fraud is published by Action Fraud here:
https://colpolice.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/60499304565045b0bce05d2ca7e1e56c

London Power (3)

Tony Devenish: Can the Mayor confirm how many customers have left London Power in the last six months?

The Mayor: London Power customers receive an excellent level of customer service, with high levels of customer satisfaction. We currently have an Excellent rating on the TrustPilot customer review website, with a score of 4.9 out of 5. London Power has a very high rate of customer retention, with 98% of customers renewing their contracts in Q1 2021. Over the last 6 months (December 2020 – May 2021), London Power has had a monthly churn rate of only 0.6%.

London Power (2)

Tony Devenish: Can the Mayor confirm London Power’s customer number target for this year?

The Mayor: See the response to MQ 2021/2844.

Support for Culture in South West London

Nicholas Rogers: Please outline what support you have given to artistic and cultural organisations in South West London. Please break down details by borough and, where possible, by individual organisations and / or projects.

The Mayor: I have made a number of investments in the South-West constituency’s cultural organisations. My Good Growth Fund granted £900,000 to Reimagine Kingston Town Centre creating space for creative enterprise, and £490,000 to Boston Manor in Hounslow, delivering affordable creative makerspace.
Hounslow is one of my first Creative Enterprise Zones, receiving £843,000 to support local businesses and young people into jobs. Kingston was awarded a London Borough of Culture Impact Award grant of £70,000 to develop a programme which connects music venues, artists and promoters.
In those boroughs, my Make London fund pledged £51,000 to local community projects including Ignite Me Theatre (Richmond), Friends of Feltham Green (Hounslow), Union of Kingston Students and Friends of Barnes Common (Kingston).
My Culture at Risk Office has supported 17 venues in the South West including the Fighting Cocks Bar and Kingston Theatre Trust (Kingston) and Killer Artist Limited and TAG Youth Club (Richmond).
My Culture Seeds programme invested a total of £47,990 in community-led creative projects in the South-West constituency. Culture Seeds projects are listed here: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/arts-and-culture/current-culture-projects/culture-seeds/projects-weve-funded

CLT application processes

Siân Berry: Could you provide me with information about the processing of Community Land Trust (CLT) grant applications by GLA staff: 1) is there a dedicated officer who deals with CLT applications, or are the applications processed by a number of officers; and 2) how many officer hours are spent processing applications per year?

The Mayor: The GLA’s work on community-led housing is undertaken by a range of officers. These include a dedicated officer who co-ordinates the programme and supports officers in the Area and Transactions Teams to process applications to the Community Housing Fund (CHF) (including applications from CLTs). Each application is assigned a lead officer in the Area or Transaction Team. A GLA CHF Panel assesses and makes recommendations on applications for CHF capital and advanced revenue funding. Information is not collected on the number of officer hours spent processing applications.

Homicide victims age profile

Unmesh Desai: Please provide the age profile of homicide victims in each of the last 5 years.

The Mayor: This information is published by the Metropolitan Police on the London Datastore and can be found via the following link:
https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/mps-homicide-dashboard-data

Green Infrastructure for London’s Councils (3)

Leonie Cooper: When will the All London Green Grid Supplementary Planning Guidance be published?

The Mayor: Please see May 2021 response to MQ 2021/1691 which indicates that an updated ALGG will be published in early 2022.

Climate Action Week (4)

Leonie Cooper: How has London Climate Action Week explored how we can support Londoners already struggling as a result of the pandemic and remove the barriers that make it hard for them to take positive climate action?

The Mayor: London Climate Action Week had two themes that were relevant to this. The first the ‘Green fair and resilient recovery’ theme that had 60 events many of which looked at how London and Londoners could be supported to recover from the pandemic. The other was the ‘Whole of Society Climate Mobilisation’ theme which had 72 events registered against it, the most events across any of the four themes and looked at how all groups of society could come together to tackle climate change.
This illustrates the importance and interest that individuals, communities, businesses and governments have in playing their role in tackling climate change. Schools, the arts, communities and inter-faith groups as well as sectors such as healthcare, finance and insurance all wanted to promote the action they were taking in the run up to COP26.
It is our responsibility to ensure COP is only the beginning but creates a step change in our approach to tackling the climate emergency.

Service Charges (3)

Sem Moema: The Homes for Londoners: Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026 Funding Guidance says, “Investment partners are required to publish on their website details of additional fees and charges (other than service charges) for Shared Ownership homes to ensure residents are sufficiently informed about any further costs”. Can you confirm that all investment partners publish this information?

The Mayor: The GLA requires all investment partners in the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) 2021-2026 to publish details of additional fees and charges (other than service charges) for shared ownership homes on their websites. This requirement is stated in the Funding Guidance and will be included in the updated GLA Capital Funding Guide in due course. Compliance with the GLA’s funding requirements is audited annually in an independent process.
In addition, the Funding Guidance confirms that the new Shared Ownership model will apply to all Shared Ownership homes funded through the AHP 2021-2026. The GLA requires investment partners to make use of Homes England’s new model lease for Shared Ownership homes delivered through the AHP 2021-2026. This includes a requirement to provide a Key Information Document to potential purchasers at the start of the marketing and sales period for all new shared ownership homes.

Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges (2)

Sem Moema: The Homes for Londoners: Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026 Funding Guidance says, “Where they have not already, investment partners are expected to sign up to the existing Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges and to commit to working with the GLA to develop a new and improved Charter, reflecting the new Shared Ownership model”. Please provide an update on work to develop a new charter and whether a draft will be consulted on?

The Mayor: Please see the answer to Mayor’s Question 2021/2721 and 2021/2722.
Work to develop a new and improved Shared Ownership Service Charges Charter is underway. My officers have considered the detail of the new Shared Ownership model and will ensure that the renewed Charter reflects this.
As discussed in the response to Mayor’s question 2021/2722, officers are currently engaging with stakeholders and will continue engagement to inform the final Charter before publication.

Service Charges (1)

Sem Moema: The Homes for Londoners: Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026 Funding Guidance says, “the GLA will work with investment partners to undertake research on service charge levels in London”. Please provide details of this work and when the research will be undertaken?

The Mayor: Research on service charge levels is underway and is informing the development of the renewed Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges. As part of this officers are also working with providers to understand how costs are communicated to shared owners.

Commissioner for Social Housing Residents

Sem Moema: Since your original call for the introduction, in September 2017, of a Commissioner for Social Housing Residents, what further discussions, if any, have you had with Government regarding this issue. What response, if any, have you received?

The Mayor: I reiterated my call on government in June 2018. Following a consultation on my London Housing Strategy, I have also confirmed that the Commissioner themselves should be a social housing tenant.
I called on government again in March 2019 in my response to the government’s green paper. The Government declined to address this in its response to the green paper. Instead it outlined a strengthened role for the Regulator of Social Housing, however legislation to enable this has not been forthcoming.

No DSS lettings

Siân Berry: What are you doing to crack down on the rise in ‘no DSS no home’ restrictions appearing across lettings?

The Mayor: I have long campaigned against the discriminatory ‘No DSS’ appearing in letting adverts.During the pandemic, the number of London’s households needing help from welfare benefits to meet their housing costs has increased, from 17% in January 2019 to 25% in January 2021. Forty per cent of these households are private renters.The government’s lack of financial support for renters who have been unable to pay their rent during the pandemic has meant that some landlords are reluctant to let to people relying on benefits – discrimination that cannot be allowed to continue. Despite having no formal powers in this area, I continue to use the evidence presented in my London Model for tenancy reform to press the government to ban ‘No DSS’ clauses in letting adverts, mortgages and tenancy clauses.

Service Charges (4)

Sem Moema: On 27 August 2020 you wrote to the London Assembly Housing Committee and said, “I am consulting on whether to require housing providers to publicly report on service charge levels at regular intervals, to improve transparency and consistency”. What were the outcomes, if any, of these consultations?

The Mayor: Between August and October 2020, the Mayor consulted on intermediate housing in London. Londoners’ views on if and how housing providers should report on service charge levels is summarised in the Intermediate Housing: Part 1 Consultation Response Report.
The responses to these questions showed a high level of support for the principle of requiring housing providers to report regularly on service charges and for this information to be made public. However, respondents also highlighted potential challenges with this approach. This included the need to ensure that any data collected is consistent and supports comparison where appropriate – but also to ensure that all data is contextualised to avoid inappropriate comparisons.
The GLA is working with investment partners to undertake research on service charges in London. This will inform the development of a new and improved Shared Ownership Charter for Service Charges. As part of this work, my officers are also working with providers to understand how charges are communicated to shared owners.

CLT grant allocations [2]

Siân Berry: What capital grant allocations and for how many units at what tenure, price points and rooms per unit have you made to date for community-led housing?

The Mayor: Capital funding of £16.9m has been allocated for 148 affordable homes across six schemes. The tenure breakdown is as follows: 8 affordable rent, 31 shared ownership and 109 discounted market sale. A range of indicative price points have been provided across the schemes, comprising social rent, shared ownership ranging from an initial share of 25% to 80% of market value and discounted sale ranging from 55% to 80% of market value. For the four schemes (comprising 88 homes) for which bedsize has been agreed, 25 homes are one bedroom, 40 are two bedrooms, 20 are three bedrooms and 3 are four bedrooms.
Note that the details for some of the schemes allocated capital funding may change, as they progress through the development process.

Cycle infrastructure design (LTN 1/20) (1)

Caroline Pidgeon: Would updating street design and layout on the Transport for London road network to meet the latest Cycle infrastructure design (LTN 1/20) reduce the risk of harm to people using those streets?

The Mayor: My Vision Zero approach to road danger in London, adopted by Transport for London (TfL), the boroughs and key stakeholders, aims to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries across the transport system. This is through a combination of interventions that include lowering speeds, tougher safety standards for motor vehicles and transformational infrastructure projects, while continually analysing the causes of collisions to learn from them and prevent their reoccurrence. Indeed, cycling injury risk in London has been reduced where protected cycle facilities have been provided in line with our existing design standards, the London Cycling Design Standards (LCDS).
As set out in LTN 1/20 Cycle Infrastructure Design guidance, local authorities and TfL are responsible for setting design standards for their roads. Much of the LTN 1/20 was based on TfL’s LCDS and so is largely aligned with our existing guidance. TfL and the boroughs benefit from having guidance tailored for the London context, which links with wider London policy documents, including the London Plan. TfL intends to update LCDS accordingly where there are additional recommendations in LTN 1/20 that TfL has evidence to support.
I will ensure that the ongoing development of best practice design guidance builds on the latest evidence, so that road danger reduction remains central to our work to improve London’s transport system.

TfL long term funding

Caroline Pidgeon: Please provide an update on negotiations with central Government on securing a long-term funding arrangement for TfL.

The Mayor: In the 1 June Funding Agreement letter, Government committed to working with Transport for London (TfL) on reaching a longer-term financial settlement beyond the period of the current agreement which expires on 11 December 2021.
TfL is currently working through the implications of the Funding Agreement as part of its Revised Budget which will be presented to the TfL Board on 28 July. This will set out how TfL can become financially sustainable by April 2023.
Meeting the conditions of the June funding letter is an important step towards securing a longer-term funding arrangement, and TfL is working with Government over the Funding period, on a long-term plan. TfL will have a better understanding of the Government’s position following the Autumn Spending Review and will continue to work with them to secure the longer-term solution.

Service Charges (2)

Sem Moema: The Homes for Londoners: Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026 Funding Guidance says, “Additional fees and charges for Shared Ownership homes should be kept to a minimum and only reflect the costs to the landlord of undertaking particular tasks”. How do you ensure that landlords do keep fees and charges to a minimum?

The Mayor: The Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26 Funding Guidance sets out the requirement that investment partners publish details of additional fees and charges on their website. The GLA Capital Funding Guide will be updated to reflect this. Compliance with funding requirements is audited annually in an independent process.
The GLA requires that investment partners make use of the new national Shared Ownership model lease. This requires landlords to produce a Key Information Document, detailing fees and charges at an early point in the marketing and sales of Shared Ownership homes.
These requirements create a basis for consumer comparison and encourage providers to consider additional fees and charges in relation to what the wider market is offering.

CLT housing at East Wick and Sweetwater

Siân Berry: Could you provide me with an update on the delivery of Community Land Trust (CLT) housing within East Wick and Sweetwater following on from your answer to my question 2021/0026?

The Mayor: The delivery of Community Land Trust (CLT) housing is progressing. A plot has been identified, and viability and deliverability reviews are ongoing. It is anticipated that a competition will be launched by East Wick & Sweetwater Projects (a joint venture partnership between Places for People and Balfour Beatty Investments) (EWS JV) in early 2022 to identify a CLT, subject to grant of planning permission and LLDC Board approval. The proposed route for delivery for CLT housing within East Wick and Sweetwater is continuing to be advanced with partnership working between the LLDC, EWS JV and the GLA’s CLT facilitation organisation, Community Led Housing London (CLH).

Support for Children (4)

Sem Moema: What assessment have you made of the success of your Early Years Hubs and how do you intend to build on that work?

The Mayor: The Early Years Hubs programme was externally evaluated by Diane Dixon Associates (DDA), with an independent report published in March 2021. It found that, despite the impact of COVID-19, the programme demonstrated considerable success in achieving its aims of improving the quality of, and access to, early education.
DDA’s report has been shared across the sector and we will soon launch an online toolkit, bringing together learning and resources from the programme. This will support those outside of the hub boroughs to benefit from their success.
One key achievement noted by DDA was that the hubs established a collaborative approach to improving the quality of early education, bringing together local partners. The programme also provided insight into the challenges posed to the sector by COVID-19, helping inform planning for new types of support such as my ‘Strong Early Years London’ business support programme.

Quantifying grey land

Siân Berry: In addition to the land owned by Transport for London (TfL) that it is being released for housing – for example, car parks next to tube stations – could you inform me what work is being done by the GLA to quantify similar ‘grey land’ for housing (not to be confused with greyfield land as per question 2007/3127)?

The Mayor: The GLAP estate is varied and includes industrial land, residential development sites and ancillary areas of land inherited from previous government bodies. The GLA, in line with London Plan guidance and design best practice, uses a master-planning approach to maximise the beneficial use and development of its land. This approach minimises “grey land” which tends to occur when sites are brought forward in a piecemeal fashion.
Masterplans like those at Greenwich Peninsula, Thameside West, Beam Park and Silvertown Quays show how large sites can be consolidated and delivered with public space as a key component part. Public realm improvement projects like the Royal Docks Corridor show how highways can be reimagined into spaces for pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and vehicles.

Rail freight

Tony Devenish: Do you recognise the benefits of rail freight and, if so, what are you doing to encourage it in London?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) and I both recognise that rail freight plays a vital role in delivering goods for London, reducing congestion and improving air quality. Each day existing rail freight services remove an estimated 4,000 Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) trips from London’s road network and, overall, rail freight produces 76 per cent less C02 per tonne than road freight. Proposal 16 of my Transport Strategy sets out that TfL will identify opportunities for moving freight on to the rail network where possible.
To achieve this, TfL has been working with Network Rail and other stakeholders to produce London’s first Rail Freight Strategy, available here: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/London-Rail-Fre.... This pioneering document seeks to develop and promote rail freight opportunities in London and meet my aspiration of moving more goods from road to rail.
TfL continues to build on its productive relationship with the rail industry by meeting regularly with the Rail Freight Group, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and Network Rail in order to explore what further action we can collectively take to encourage rail freight in the capital.

London Housing Panel (1)

Tony Devenish: Why is the Mayor abolishing the London Housing Panel, just two years after you established it? Are you reconsidering this decision, or otherwise what alternative plans do you have to seek the views of these organisations?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor's Question 2021/2771.

London Housing Panel (2)

Tony Devenish: What changes to your housing policies have been discussed since the London Housing Panel was established, and which of these have been implemented?

The Mayor: The London Housing Panel was established in June 2019. In June 2020 the panel Chair presented the panel’s priorities at my Homes for London board.
The first priority for the panel is to ‘massively increase social housing supply’. In negotiating my new Affordable Homes Programme, I have secured over 50 per cent of the allocation of new homes as social rented homes.
The second priority for the panel is to ‘support all Londoners to be heard and thrive’. The panel provided helpful input to my officers in bringing forward new contractual requirements in the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26. These will require investment partners to commit to amplify the voices of residents, especially those that are under-represented or face significant housing-related inequalities, and commit to actions and initiatives that address barriers to inclusion, with engagement appropriately resourced.
The third priority for the panel has been to ‘take action on temporary accommodation’. My officers are undertaking joint work with London Councils to scope an investment programme to address the digital exclusion faced by Londoners living in temporary accommodation, using funding I have provided to the London Office of Technology and Innovation.

London Housing Panel

Siân Berry: Could you inform me of the decision-making process that resulted in London Housing Panel having its funding removed by the end of the current financial year?

The Mayor: All decisions regarding the funding for the London Housing Panel have been made transparently and published (see ADD2339, ADD2412, ADD2412). The GLA’s challenging budgetary position crystallised in early 2021, at which point no funding for the panel had been agreed or approved beyond July 2021. Deputy Mayor Tom Copley wrote to the Panel on 19 March 2021 inviting the Panel to set out proposals for how the GLA may use additional, time-limited funding to assist the Panel to transition to a future status that recognises the GLA’s constrained resources. No proposal for further funding had been received by the GLA at this point. The GLA is compelled to consider how the connection between the housing team and London’s voluntary and community sector can be achieved within the unprecedented financial constraints faced. We asked the Panel to consider how their legacy can be secured, by helping my housing team ensure that community engagement, including with panel member organisations, is embedded in our policymaking and implementation. A proposal for further panel funding, for the period to March 2022, was submitted by Trust for London on 18 June 2021 and approved on 12 July 2021 (see ADD2525).

Right-to-buy-back fund

Siân Berry: Could you provide me with information on what work you have done on costing and how to implement your 'right to buy back' proposal, which aims to support councils to purchase homes previously sold through the right to buy?

The Mayor: My Right to Buy-Back fund was launched on Tuesday 13th July. Further information about the fund is available online here: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/housing-and-land/council-and-social-housing/what-mayor-doing-increase-council-housing-londoners

Temporary accommodation

Siân Berry: Could you provide me with information on what progress has been made on the recommendations in the London Housing Panel’s priorities regarding temporary accommodation? These priorities are:
Set up a commission, with London boroughs, to find solutions to London’s temporary accommodation crisis, and ensure that this includes the voices of those who have experienced homelessness and temporary accommodation.


Work with London boroughs to develop pan-London quality standards in the use of temporary accommodation, including accommodation provided by the private rented sector, B&Bs, hostels and other forms of temporary accommodation provision.


Use the London Model of the private rented sector to continue to lobby national government for more powers, but ensure this blueprint has consideration for those living in temporary accommodation.


Take a stand against the use of conversions carried out under ‘permitted development rights’ and work with councils to discourage and enforce against developments that do not meet space, environmental and safety standards.

The Mayor: The Deputy Mayor for Housing recently convened, alongside London Councils and the London Housing Panel, a roundtable to discuss the temporary accommodation pressures which are affecting Londoners and London councils. My housing team worked with the Panel’s secretariat to identify actions that could be taken forward by the GLA to respond to the challenges raised.
The roundtable identified the need to tackle barriers to digital inclusion for families in temporary accommodation. My housing team has taken this forward in partnership with London Councils and the London Office of Technology and Innovation.
As mayor I do not have a statutory responsibility for temporary accommodation. However, I am keen to assist boroughs to support the large numbers of homeless households who seek assistance from their local authority each year. This has included part-funding the Setting the Standard programme (ADD2415). This has established pan-London quality and management standards covering B&B and studio flats used by 31 local authorities for nightly paid temporary accommodation.
The best solution to reduce pressure on temporary accommodation is to reduce the number of households who become homeless. This is why I continue to lobby the government to bring forward legislation to deliver the principles of the London Model, bringing more security for renters, including scrapping section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions. The Model recognises the importance of protecting the supply of accommodation to support homeless households, and those at risk of homelessness.
I am concerned about the ongoing expansion of Permitted Development Rights leading to further sub-standard housing in inappropriate locations and failing to deliver affordable housing. Recent representations include those made to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee inquiries into the future of the planning system in England and into Permitted Development Rights. My planning team this month have published strategic evidence to support Article 4 Directions related to commercial (Class E) to residential permitted development rights.

TfL credit rating

Len Duvall: Credit agency Moody’s has downgraded Transport for London’s debt, citing the Government’s unwillingness to provide clarity on the operator’s long-term finances as one of the reasons for doing so (https://www.cityam.com/moodys-downgrades-tfls-debt-says-pandemic-damage-unlikely-to-be-reversed/).
At a meeting of the Budget and Performance Committee on the 16th December 2020, Simon Kilonback (Chief Finance Officer at Transport for London) said a credit rating downgrade ‘‘would have an implication not only for our cost of borrowing, but actually for many of our suppliers who themselves borrow against contracts from TfL. It would also have implications for other liabilities we have, to our pensioners and the trustees of our pension fund, and to many other stakeholders who rely upon the promise that TfL, if you like, as a public body, will always be around and will always be able to meet its obligations. Otherwise you would face much higher costs and much shorter contract lengths, both of which would make costs very much higher than they are today.’’
Is this the situation TfL is now in due to the Government’s failure to provide a long-term funding settlement?

The Mayor: Following the two notch credit rating downgrade by Moody’s on 15 June 2021, Transport for London (TfL) has seen an increase in cost of its short-term debt. Wider implications of the rating downgrade on its costs and other liabilities will only become clear over the medium to long term.
TfL is rated by three agencies and both S&P and Fitch currently give TfL a rating of A+ with a stable outlook. This is two notches higher than the rating from Moody’s and therefore helps to mitigate the negative impact of the downgrade. However, in the absence of the long-term funding certainty there remains a risk of further rating downgrades.

CLT grant allocations [1]

Siân Berry: What revenue grant allocations and for how many homes have you made to date for community-led housing?

The Mayor: Ninety-one schemes (with potential to deliver over 1,000 homes) have been allocated £1.8m of early-stage revenue funding, or advice on group governance and agreeing a site. Eight schemes (for 137 homes) have been allocated a total of £2.9m of advanced- stage revenue funding, for example, to submit a planning application and appoint a contractor.

Greener City Fund

Leonie Cooper: What plans do you have for the Greener City Fund during this term of your mayoralty?

The Mayor: My £13m Greener City Fund, which ran during my first term, supported over 270 projects to improve over 400 hectares of green space and plant more than 340,000 trees. The fund supported community projects, major green space improvements such as the new swimming lake at Beckenham Place Park, and two new woodlands in London’s Green Belt.
Last month, I announced £6m of new funding that will build on the success of the Greener City Fund and support London’s recovery from COVID-19 as part of the Green New Deal Mission. This includes the Grow Back Greener Fund community grants programme, and a Green and Resilient Spaces Fund to support large-scale projects.
These programmes will focus on areas with poor access to green space and high climate vulnerability, addressing the inequalities highlighted by the pandemic and supporting my aim for all Londoners to live within a ten-minute walk of green space.

Service Charges (5)

Sem Moema: Shared ownership as a housing product is affordable because the rents charged are capped by a Government formula, with increases applied using an approach similar to social housing rents. You have said that London should have the powers to establish a system of private sector rent control. Should there be a similar system to regulate leasehold charges? Please give your reasons.

The Mayor: Annual rent for shared owners in homes receiving GLA funding is initially set no higher than the equivalent of 2.75 per cent of the value of the unowned share. Rent rises year-on-year cannot exceed inflation (RPI) plus 0.5%. This provides predictability and affordability, for shared owners.
Shared owners are also liable to pay service charges to their landlord, and my team is currently refreshing the Service Charges Charter. Overall affordability of charges is a key principle, and the charter sets expectations for greater transparency.
The GLA has also paved the way in ensuring that leaseholders are not hit by unfair charges for lease extensions. I have set out an expectation that partners will provide 990-year leases for homes delivered through my Affordable Homes Programme. I am pleased that the government indicated in January 2021 that legislation will give residential leaseholders the right to extend their lease, at zero ground rent, for 990-years. In May 2021 the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill was introduced, prohibiting ground rent clauses on future long residential leases.

Bank Branch Closures

Joanne McCartney: Feryal Clark MP has recently highlighted the lack of access to cash and cash banking facilities for local people and small businesses due to the closure of bank branches in Enfield North. Can you give figures for the numbers of bank branches that have closed in London over the past three years? Will your Better High Streets for All Recovery Mission look at this issue?

The Mayor: An April 2021 parliamentary briefing paper shows that the number of bank branches that have closed in London since 2018 is 210: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8570/.
My High Streets for All mission is supporting local partnerships to develop strategies for high streets that meet local needs, devising plans to get the balance right between economic, social, cultural and civic uses. Securing the right mix for any high street is best done locally. My London Plan advocates locally produced town-centre strategies to support Local Plans. This entails boroughs investigating vacancies in their high streets and town centres and setting policies to achieve good growth. This could mean having policies that allow a broader mix of uses along a high street or allowing businesses the flexibility to operate as a mixed use, where this would support the vitality and viability of the area. Local Plans and strategies can help Local Authorities to review, provide or protect services that communities rely on, such as access to banking.

Restorative Justice (1)

Caroline Pidgeon: How are you working to ensure restorative justice is an option for victims of crime, allowing them to make a choice of whether they would want to take part or not?

The Mayor: Restorative justice is part of the basket of services available to all victims of crime supported by the London Victim and Witness Service (LVWS). Restorative justice is not appropriate in all cases and care must be taken on how and when a conversation about this option should take place with a victim.
The specialist restorative justice partner in the LVWS provides training and support to LVWS staff in understanding how this approach should be made. In addition, police officers are receiving training and guidance to increase their awareness of the merits of restorative justice and how to refer victims directly into the service.
Finally, victims groups have worked with the police to develop an information leaflet, to be given to all victims, which includes information on restorative justice.

IBBG Benchmarking of London’s Bus Worker Covid-19 Deaths against Peer World Cities

Keith Prince: In your response to Question 2021/1985 you confirmed that the International Bus Benchmarking Group (IBBG) will be benchmarking London’s bus worker Covid-19 deaths against ‘world city’ peers and that TfL will receive this information in late 2021. Will you undertake to announce and publish the results of the exercise as soon as they are received?

The Mayor: The International Bus Benchmarking Group Covid-19 benchmarking is now being carried out by Imperial College London and the results are expected in late 2021. Transport for London will publish the results of this benchmarking once it is available and has been checked for accuracy and the anonymisation of other cities’ data.

Discretionary Housing Payments

Joanne McCartney: What will be the effect to Londoners of the Government’s cuts to the Discretional Housing Payment funding it gives to local authorities?

The Mayor: Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) can only go so far in compensating for a welfare benefits system that’s been subject to a decade of cuts and now fails to cover the rents of many Londoners who need that help. But they’re of real value in softening some of the blows that system inflicts and buying time some of those struggling to cover their rents can use to pursue (better-paid) work or different accommodation. Local authorities rely heavily on them for their vital work to prevent homelessness.
So, I’m disappointed that this year’s Government funding is lower than last year’s – at the very point when landlords are resuming evictions and, especially in London, many people who lost jobs and claimed benefits last year are becoming subject to the Benefit Cap. This is bad for Londoners who need extra help to cover their rent and bad for local authorities whose work to prevent homelessness is already hugely challenging.
That’s why my Deputy Mayor for Housing asked the Government for extra funding for DHPs. I’ve also urged the Government to help renters who’ve accrued arrears because of the pandemic, but aren’t eligible for DHPs because they don’t receive benefits for housing costs.

Bus Stop on Meridian Way, A1055

Joanne McCartney: Can TfL investigate the possibility of installing a bus stop near Ardra Road on Meridian Way, A1055, as there are a number of businesses nearby whose workers would benefit from better access to the bus network?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) acknowledges that there is currently no direct access to the bus network at Ardra Road as the closest stops are located on Pickett’s Lock Lane, a distance of approximately 540 metres. However, the local bus network would need to be significantly re-structured in order to improve access. This would require a viable business case, provision of funding, and the identification of suitable stop locations. TfL intends to consider options for improving access to Ardra Road as part of a review of the local bus network in autumn 2021.

EWS1 forms and Building Safety

Anne Clarke: Constituents are raising concerns that EWS1 forms are being used to assess building safety, which is not what they were designed to do. Are you concerned that incorrect use of EWS1 forms will lead to some unsafe buildings- for example with poor compartmentation- being labelled as safe because their external walls have limited defects?

The Mayor: I agree that External Wall System (EWS1) forms should not be used as life safety certificates. The EWS1 process was introduced by industry bodies to facilitate the sale and purchase of homes and is not intended to provide life or building safety assurances.
The most appropriate way to provide life and fire safety assurances is through high quality, up-to-date and accessible Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs). I welcome the government’s consultation on the Fire Safety Order earlier this year, which has informed policies proposed in the Building Safety Bill. I welcome the proposal to develop a competency framework for individuals conducting FRAs, which will certainly improve the quality of the certificates. I also welcome the proposal to require Responsible Persons to provide fire safety information to current residents. However, while this is a step in the right direction, I urge the government to extend the duty for building owners and landlords to disclose FRAs and other building safety information to both current and prospective residents.

Young people’s attitudes to police in schools (2)

Caroline Russell: Kids of Colour released their report, Decriminalise the Classroom: A Community Response to Police in Greater Manchester's Schools, as part of their campaign for no police in schools. Do you support this campaign?

The Mayor: I recognise the concerns within the report – it is important that officers in schools do not exacerbate any wider societal disproportionality or needlessly criminalise young people.
Nonetheless I believe that Safer Schools Officers can have a valuable role in developing positive relationships between young people and the police, supporting victims of crime and enhancing safeguarding for both young people and the wider community.
My Action Plan on Transparency, Accountability and Trust in Policing commits to ensuring the work of schools’ officers is monitored and assessed and that there are no disproportionate impacts.
The views of Londoners on Safer Schools Officers (SSOs) are explored through both the Public Attitude Survey (PAS) and Youth Voice Survey. The third and fourth quarter (October 20 – March 21) PAS found 93% of Londoners support the use of SSOs in schools. Those from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background were slightly less likely to support SSOs, but that support was still high at 88%.

Pet-friendly housing tenancies (2)

Emma Best: What assessment has been made of London’s housing providers taking up the revised Model Tenancy Agreement published in January 2021 designed to support more people to own pets in rental properties?

The Mayor: I am in favour of pet-friendly tenancies where these are possible. In my London Model of improved tenure security in the private rented sector, published in July 2019, I am clear that private landlords should not be able to unreasonably refuse routine requests to own a pet. The government’s model tenancy agreement for assured shorthold tenancies goes some way towards ensuring that tenants have free and fair use of their homes, but it needs to be underpinned by more fundamental reforms to provide renters with more security and stability. I continue to call on the government to bring forward these long-promised reforms as soon as possible.
Lease conditions may also prevent landlords from allowing their tenants to own pets. Again, I am calling on the government for leasehold reforms that would enable leaseholders (and their tenants, where applicable) to have free and fair use of their homes.
I am not aware of any assessment of the uptake of the government’s model tenancy agreement by private landlords. Please also see my response to question 2021/2827, which relates to pet-friendly tenancies in the social housing sector.

Early Intervention with Children (1)

Sem Moema: How is the Mayor supporting early intervention projects aimed at addressing adverse childhood experiences?

The Mayor: I am determined to do everything I can to improve opportunities and support for children and young people. This starts from the earliest years where I’ve invested in programmes such as Healthy Early Years London to support quality early years education to help all children have the best start in life.
My Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has a clear emphasis on supporting children who have had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). For example, the VRU is currently shaping a pilot to help young people who have been affected by domestic violence and it’s investing in school primary programmes to develop healthy relationships as a means of building individual resilience. Find out more at https://www.london.gov.uk/content/londons-violence-reduction-unit
The Young Londoners Fund has supported over 89,000 young people so far through over 300 projects, many of which are aimed at addressing ACEs. More information can be found at https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/young-londoners-fund-projects
I will continue to advocate for vital early intervention support throughout a young Londoners childhood.

Pet-friendly housing tenancies (1)

Emma Best: What conversations has the Mayor’s Office had with London housing providers to assess their willingness to offer pet-friendly tenancies so that more Londoners can benefit from the physical and mental health benefits of pet ownership?

The Mayor: I appreciate the many benefits of pet ownership for health and wellbeing, and I am in favour of pet-friendly tenancies where possible. This is why my Homes for Londoners: Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26 introduces the expectation that partners will support pet ownership for residents in all affordable homes delivered through this programme. The funding guidance sets out that partners bidding through the programme are expected to have flexible policies on pet ownership.

Mobility Hubs and London

Leonie Cooper: The application for a ‘mobility hub’ in Ancoats, Manchester signals a new approach to urban mobility. How will learning from this project be used to improve large development projects in London, to ensure neighbourhoods see air quality improvements from reduced traffic?

The Mayor: My London Plan and Transport Strategy have Good Growth at their heart and both contain clear policies and proposals to encourage developments (large and small) which reduce car dependency, encourage active travel (including through the provision of cycle parking), enable deliveries and servicing that are both more sustainable and consolidated, and improve air quality for Londoners.
The Ancoats Mobility Hub is an approach that we would consider in London, in the right location, especially in relation to the provision of space for consolidation. However, my parking standards would generally seek to restrict the provision of car parking in such a well-located site near the city centre (except for provision of disabled persons parking).
Further detail on existing work to consolidate freight in London can be found in answers to previous MQs: 2021/1555, 2021/0993 and 2021/0759.

Social and Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund

Anne Clarke: How many grants have been made from these funds to date? Please provide a breakdown since the funds began, showing the size of grant; social or private residential; and month of grant award.

The Mayor: As of 7 July 2021, 79 payments from the Social Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund have been authorised. In total, £109,169,368 has been paid out to date. It should be noted that grant is paid in two tranches for this programme – 80 per cent and 20 per cent.
As of 7 July 2021, 82 payments from the Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund have been authorised. In total, £20,661,101 has been paid out to date. It should be noted that most buildings under this programme follow a monthly payment structure.
Please see table below for a breakdown of grant paid.
Social Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund
Date of authorisation
Grant total (£)
29 January 2019
£277,842.00
08 February 2019
£1,967,170.00
14 February 2019
£7,610,557.00
14 February 2019
£5,556,092.00
25 February 2019
£1,265,600.00
15 March 2019
£1,533,820.00
15 March 2019
£663,718.00
15 March 2019
£663,718.00
18 March 2019
£13,091,657.00
28 March 2019
£1,794,918.00
28 March 2019
£324,543.00
29 March 2019
£633,606.00
10 May 2019
£276,242.00
18 April 2019
£3,028,886.00
29 May 2019
£359,650.00
08 May 2019
£678,305.00
08 May 2019
£513,030.00
15 May 2019
£785,957.00
07 June 2019
£1,841,562.00
20 December 2019
£844,872.00
19 December 2019
£1,124,949.00
18 December 2019
£4,847,856.00
13 December 2019
£89,912.00
27 November 2019
£826,553.00
12 November 2019
£2,046,413.00
07 November 2019
£242,894.00
01 November 2019
£332,181.00
01 November 2019
£332,181.00
29 October 2019
£8,985,065.00
16 October 2019
£332,181.00
16 October 2019
£1,328,722.00
15 October 2019
£1,328,722.00
15 October 2019
£1,328,722.00
09 October 2019
£141,837.00
04 October 2019
£2,399,994.00
04 October 2019
£2,399,994.00
04 October 2019
£2,399,993.00
01 October 2019
£388,993.00
11 March 2020
£266,266.00
06 March 2020
£4,740,146.00
05 March 2020
£826,553.00
05 February 2020
£837,066.00
05 February 2020
£826,553.00
23 January 2020
£505,514.00
23 January 2020
£730,991.00
23 January 2020
£128,258.00
14 August 2019
£1,944,327.00
05 July 2019
£2,619,090.00
05 July 2019
£567,350.00
18 July 2019
£1,378,865.00
18 July 2019
£93,584.00
19 July 2019
£491,793.00
23 April 2020
£382,284.00
03 June 2020
£85,525.00
03 June 2020
£328,221.00
08 June 2020
£308,583.00
30 September 2020
£1,726,003.00
23 September 2020
£84,634.00
08 September 2020
£393,546.00
18 August 2020
£987,501.00
18 August 2020
£1,010,044.00
06 August 2020
£10,169.00
23 July 2020
£45,618.00
02 July 2020
£2,294,445.00
23 December 2020
£580,576.00
23 December 2020
£517,709.00
16 February 2021
£2,380,000.00
10 March 2021
£1,002,458.00
24 March 2021
£155,089.00
26 March 2021
£588,396.00
26 March 2021
£144,044.00
30 March 2021
£3,588,224.00
30 March 2021
£165,930.00
30 March 2021
£383,455.00
30 March 2021
£165,930.00
28 April 2021
£144,044.00
28 April 2021
£588,396.00
28 April 2021
£103,440.00
18 June 2021
£459,841.00

Total: 109,169,368.00
Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation
Date of authorisation
Grant total (£)
Feb 3, 2020
£49,496
Apr 14, 2020
£200,631
Apr 16, 2020
£25,104
May 22, 2020
£211,821
Jun 24, 2020
£60,000
Jul 1, 2020
£409,384
Jul 3, 2020
£12,563
Jul 3, 2020
£209,382
Jul 16, 2020
£160,000
Jul 20, 2020
£19,000
Jul 27, 2020
£274,822
Aug 26, 2020
£202,574
Sep 15, 2020
£141,400
Sep 28, 2020
£194,841
Oct 27, 2020
£87,973
Oct 28, 2020
£313,654
Nov 11, 2020
£606,704
Nov 11, 2020
£429,000
Nov 27, 2020
£154,978
Dec 11, 2020
£140,530
Dec 17, 2020
£429,780
Dec 21, 2020
£119,920
Dec 23, 2020
£393,143
Jan 6, 2021
£400,000
Jan 6, 2021
£773,872
Jan 7, 2021
£78,004
Jan 19, 2021
£48,717
Jan 20, 2021
£569,928
Feb 2, 2021
£76,721
Feb 5, 2021
£16,645
Feb 10, 2021
£42,364
Feb 11, 2021
£50,122
Feb 11, 2021
£296,996
Feb 12, 2021
£104,911
Feb 18, 2021
£491,348
Feb 18, 2021
£181,811
Feb 23, 2021
£71,731
Feb 25, 2021
£128,737
Mar 2, 2021
£28,061
Mar 19, 2021
£119,802
Mar 19, 2021
£229,933
Mar 19, 2021
£110,557
Mar 23, 2021
£113,315
Mar 24, 2021
£57,718
Mar 26, 2021
£486,220
Mar 30, 2021
£408,133
Mar 30, 2021
£411,243
Apr 9, 2021
£238,772
Apr 21, 2021
£87,823
Apr 22, 2021
£524,280
Apr 26, 2021
£49,061
Apr 28, 2021
£37,477
Apr 29, 2021
£147,108
May 5, 2021
£195,903
May 6, 2021
£171,394
May 6, 2021
£57,800
May 10, 2021
£439,000
May 12, 2021
£160,957
May 14, 2021
£3,054,706
May 20, 2021
£234,719
May 20, 2021
£640,155
May 20, 2021
£45,100
May 21, 2021
£270,742
May 24, 2021
£55,400
May 26, 2021
£160,189
Jun 3, 2021
£109,596
Jun 3, 2021
£29,142
Jun 3, 2021
£151,808
Jun 8, 2021
£104,057
Jun 10, 2021
£242,312
Jun 10, 2021
£217,896
Jun 15, 2021
£214,509
Jun 15, 2021
£540,752
Jun 17, 2021
£187,336
Jun 21, 2021
£184,050
Jun 21, 2021
£88,000
Jun 23, 2021
£971,835
Jun 23, 2021
£36,540
Jun 23, 2021
£295,500
Jun 23, 2021
£189,704
Jun 23, 2021
£280,000
Jun 25, 2021
£103,889
Total
£20,661,101

Domestic Abuse (2)

Sem Moema: Is the provision of Domestic Abuse services in London on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) equal to the provision during the working week (Monday-Friday)?

The Mayor: No - some of the services we commission will provide a reduced or emergency service over the weekend. The arrangements for services commissioned locally will also differ across London.

MOPAC Funds (2)

Sem Moema: How many young people in Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest have been supported by your Young Londoners Fund to date?

The Mayor: From October 2018 to December 2020, the GLA's Young Londoners Fund round 1 and 2 projects supported 1,963 young people in Hackney, 2,369 in Islington and 2,273 in Waltham Forest. Projects are continuing to support young people in the three boroughs, such as LB Waltham Forest’s Streetbase peer-to-peer street engagement programme.
Information on Young Londoners Fund projects can be found at https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/young-londoners-fund-projects

MOPAC Funds (1)

Sem Moema: How many young people have been supported by your Young Londoners Fund since its launch? Please break this information down by year and by borough.

The Mayor: The Young Londoners Fund is funded by the Greater Londoner Authority. In total, the Young Londoners Fund (YLF) has supported over 89,000 young people from 2018 to March 2021, of which 65,560 were through projects funded by round 1 and 2 of the YLF and the balance through YLF investment to scale-up City Hall projects such as Sport Unites, London Gang Exit and Headstart Action. The table named MQ2021/3210 provides data on the number of young people supported by the YLF round 1 and 2 projects, by borough, to December 2020.The next data return from round 1 and 2 YLF grant holders which will be analysed by borough is due in late July 2021 and will cover the period from January to June.

The Mayor: MQ 2021 3210 YLF Borough Data by Year.xlsx

Building Safety Fund

Anne Clarke: How many grants have been made from this fund to date? Please provide a breakdown since the funds began, showing the size of grant and date of grant award.

The Mayor: As of 6 July 2021, my Building Safety team had approved 48 grant payments from the Building Safety Fund totalling £26,804,822.
Please see table below for a breakdown.
Grant total (£)
Date of authorisation
167,267
15-Oct-20
515,104
09-Dec-20
571,988
07-Jan-21
219,898
11-Jan-21
1,764,874
13-Jan-21
463,175
22-Jan-21
455,989
27-Jan-21
131,519
04-Feb-21
628,330
12-Feb-21
60,301
24-Feb-21
323,825
24-Feb-21
1,801,940
25-Feb-21
465,657
25-Feb-21
227,348
25-Feb-21
274,178
25-Feb-21
230,728
08-Mar-21
479,823
10-Mar-21
372,809
11-Mar-21
398,934
17-Mar-21
728,716
17-Mar-21
88,023
30-Mar-21
460,607
30-Mar-21
347,273
06-Apr-21
916,157
07-Apr-21
207,214
08-Apr-21
1,105,267
08-Apr-21
944,089
14-Apr-21
720,162
14-Apr-21
235,571
16-Apr-21
2,220,132
16-Apr-21
1,083,674
19-Apr-21
470,328
21-Apr-21
292,957
21-Apr-21
212,888
05-May-21
80,956
07-May-21
1,388,588
14-May-21
1,798,652
19-May-21
157,071
19-May-21
246,495
24-May-21
1,003,815
04-Jun-21
228,782
08-Jun-21
783,091
11-Jun-21
91,918
15-Jun-21
335,660
16-Jun-21
170,400
21-Jun-21
628,113
28-Jun-21
162,337
28-Jun-21
142,199
30-Jun-21

Waking Watch Relief Fund

Anne Clarke: How many grants have been made from this fund to date? Please provide a breakdown since the funds began, showing the size of grant and date of grant award.

The Mayor: As at 24 June 2021, 31 Waking Watch Relief Fund applications have been referred to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for a funding decision of which 24 have been approved. My Building Safety Team is now working with successful applicants to enter a funding agreement, so no funding has yet been drawn down on the Waking Watch Relief Fund.